Image processing device, image processing method, and stereoscopic image display device

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an image processing device includes a first detector, a calculator, and a determiner. The first detector is configured to detect a position of a viewer. The calculator is configured to calculate a position variation probability that indicates a probability of the viewer making a movement, based on positions detected at different times. The determiner is configured to determine a visible area within which stereoscopic images to be displayed on a display are visible, based on the position variation probability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image processing device, comprising:
 a first detector configured to detect a position of a viewer;   a calculator configured to calculate a position variation probability that indicates a probability of the viewer making a movement, based on positions detected at different times; and   a determiner configured to determine a visible area within which stereoscopic images to be displayed on a display are visible, based on the position variation probability.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a value indicated by the position variation probability decreases as the possibility of the viewer making a movement increases, and   the determiner is configured to change the visible area when the position variation probability is equal to or smaller than a threshold value.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the calculator is configured to calculate the position variation probability using a probability distribution that indicates that the position variation probability becomes greater as a temporal change in the position of the viewer becomes smaller. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the calculator is configured to calculate the probability distribution such that the range of the probability distribution increases as the distance increases from a sensor used in detecting the position of the viewer to the viewer. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a second detector configured to detect an illuminance that indicates brightness surrounding the display, wherein
 the calculator is configured to set the probability distribution such that a range of the probability distribution becomes greater as the illuminance lowers.   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the determiner is configured to determine the visible area such that the position of the viewer is included in the visible area when the viewer is one in number and when it is determined to change the visible area, and   the determiner is configured to determine the visible area such that a sum of the position variation probability of each of the viewer present within the visible area is the largest when the viewer is more than one in number and when it is determined to change the visible area.   
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the calculator is configured to calculate the current position variation probability using the position variation probability calculated based on the positions detected during a predetermined time period in the past. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined time period is expressed as the product of a detection interval that indicates an interval at which the first detector performs detection and an integer that is set to a value that increases as the detection interval decreases. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a display controller configured to control the display in such that the visible area determined by the determiner is formed. 
     
     
         10 . An image processing method comprising:
 detecting a position of a viewer;   calculating a position variation probability that indicates a probability of the viewer making a movement, based on positions detected at different times; and   determining a visible area within which stereoscopic images to be displayed on a display are visible, based on the position variation probability.   
     
     
         11 . A stereoscopic image display device comprising:
 a display configured to display a stereoscopic image;   a first detector configured to detect a position of a viewer;   a calculator configured to calculate a position variation probability that indicates a probability of the viewer making a movement, based on positions detected at different times; and   a determiner configured to determine a visible area within which stereoscopic images to be displayed on the display are visible, based on the position variation probability.   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein
 a value indicated by the position variation probability decreases as the possibility of the viewer making a movement increases, and   the determiner is configured to change the visible area when the position variation probability is equal to or smaller than a threshold value.   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the calculator is configured to calculate the position variation probability using a probability distribution that indicates that the position variation probability becomes greater as a temporal change in the position of the viewer becomes smaller. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the calculator is configured to calculate the probability distribution such that the range of the probability distribution increases as the distance increases from a sensor used in detecting the position of the viewer to the viewer. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a second detector configured to detect an illuminance that indicates brightness surrounding the display, wherein
 the calculator is configured to set the probability distribution such that a range of the probability distribution becomes greater as the illuminance lowers.   
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the determiner is configured to determine the visible area such that the position of the viewer is included in the visible area when the viewer is one in number and when it is determined to change the visible area, and   the determiner is configured to determine the visible area such that a sum of the position variation probability of each of the viewer present within the visible area is the largest when the viewer is more than one in number and when it is determined to change the visible area.   
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the calculator is configured to calculate the current position variation probability using the position variation probability calculated based on the positions detected during a predetermined time period in the past. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined time period is expressed as the product of a detection interval that indicates an interval at which the first detector performs detection and an integer that is set to a value that increases as the detection interval decreases. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 11 , further comprising a display controller configured to control the display in such that the visible area determined by the determiner is formed.